The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 293
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Side Story. Annellia, Tian, and Yuriadne ⑶
“Yuri….”
Annellia held the crying child and gently patted her back.
The sorrow of being excluded from play, the humiliation she felt from Reina’s words.
Even the fear of having hit a friend.
It seemed like everything the child had been holding back burst out all at once.
When she turned her head, she could see Tian mouthing words.
‘Let her cry, she didn’t even cry at kindergarten.’
Annellia unconsciously closed her mouth.
She didn’t even cry at kindergarten.
She could picture the child sitting upright on the floor, holding back her tears.
Annellia’s gaze turned to the crown of Yuriadne’s head buried in her embrace.
‘…She’s still so small.’
Suddenly, she remembered her own two experiences of being five years old.
During her first time being five, she had been busy proving herself in the Longton Duchy, and honestly, the second time wasn’t much different.
Annellia unconsciously clenched her fists.
“How disappointed Yuri must have been to act like that.”
“Didn’t we both send her to Teacher Ann because we wanted to raise Yuri more like a child?”
Tian’s words now clearly entered her mind.
Annellia remained silent for a moment, then quietly asked.
“Yuri, were you upset that Reina wouldn’t let you join the game?”
The child squirmed in her embrace.
“…Mm-hmm, Yuri wanted to be a knight….”
“But they wouldn’t let our Yuri be a knight.”
“Mm-hmm! Reina told Yuri to stand somewhere else all alone….”
Her trembling back showed just how disappointed and upset the child had been in that moment.
A small sigh escaped from Annellia’s lips.
Annellia hugged Yuriadne tighter and said.
“I’m sorry for scolding you first without listening to Yuri’s feelings.”
The child held her breath quietly.
Then she peeked up her head and met eyes with Annellia.
Her eyes, the same color as her own, were filled with bewilderment.
“Our Yuri, it’s hard, isn’t it? Having to control the power inside you, and keeping it secret that you’re an Imperial Princess at kindergarten.”
Yuriadne hesitated, then shook her head.
“Yuri is okay! If I say I’m an Imperial Princess, my friends might feel uncomfortable, and bad people might approach Yuri with impure intentions!”
Small laughter burst from both Annellia and Tian’s lips.
It seemed the child had overheard something the couple had said and remembered it strangely.
Annellia stroked the child’s head and asked.
“Yuri, should we just tell the kindergarten? That Yuri is actually a princess.”
Yuriadne’s expression became complicated.
“Umm….”
“Then Reina wouldn’t tease Yuri, and you wouldn’t have to hide it anymore, right?”
Yuriadne, who hadn’t answered, finally responded after a long while.
“I don’t want to tell them. If I say Yuriadne is an Imperial Princess, I think my friends won’t treat Yuri as Yuri… They’ll call me Your Highness.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Even when we play snowball fights in winter, I think they won’t throw snow at Yuri.”
“Does Yuri like getting hit by snowballs?”
“It’s cold and refreshing, so I like it!”
Annellia and Tian laughed simultaneously.
Then they met eyes with Yuriadne, who had stopped crying.
“Then we’ll leave that decision to Yuri. But we have to tell Reina. Mommy and Daddy need to meet Reina’s parents.”
Yuriadne’s eyes widened, then she looked dejected as if understanding.
Without being told, the child carefully said.
“Mommy, then I’ll apologize to Reina. I’ll say sorry for hitting her.”
“Let’s do that. Reina will probably apologize too. Do you think you two can make up?”
“I can do it! Reina is a bit sneaky and acts smart, but she’s not a bad kid.”
Annellia smiled and hugged her daughter tightly again.
“Yuri will grow up to be a really good person.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Mommy will love Yuri the most out of everyone in the world.”
A bright smile spread across the child’s face.
Her upset and sorrowful feelings were melting away like snowflakes on her palm.
Yuriadne repeated Annellia’s words.
“Mommy loves Yuri. Because Yuri is a good person.”
“That’s right.”
“Even if Yuri becomes a bad person?”
“Of course. Then I’ll help Yuri become good again by staying by your side.”
“What if Yuri doesn’t become a wonderful adult?”
“It’s okay if you’re not wonderful. For Mommy and Daddy, the most important thing is that Yuri lives happily as herself.”
Yuriadne’s heart pounded.
The child shouted “Yes!” and hugged Annellia with all her might.
Count Rentos put on the crocodile leather jacket he had inherited from his predecessor but never worn once.
After pinning a gold brooch above his left chest, he checked himself in the mirror.
“Ahem! How do I look now?”
His adjutant immediately bowed his head.
“Just as you requested, you look like a merciless, unyielding, and reliable father who will show no leniency whatsoever!”
“Good, that’s how it should be.”
Count Rentos left his room and went down the stairs.
In the courtyard, he could see his daughter Reina wearing a cute dress.
“Reina, let’s go!”
When he called out, the child ran over with quick steps and naturally took his hand.
It had been two years since Reina’s mother passed away from illness.
Since then, the Count told Reina every day.
That she was the best, with a wonderful father and great family background.
So she never needed to feel intimidated anywhere or bow her head to anyone.
He worried that growing up under a single father might leave a burden in the child’s heart.
But two nights ago, his daughter’s eye had turned black and blue.
At the hands of some unknown classmate.
As soon as the carriage started moving, the Count said.
“Daddy will never forgive them. You don’t forgive that little brat either!”
“But Reina said something mean first, you know? I said Yuri’s mommy and daddy were liars.”
Count Rentos looked at his daughter with a start.
If she had insulted the parents, even a young child would have felt humiliated.
But still, even so.
“That doesn’t justify throwing punches!”
“…I didn’t let her join the game and teased her.”
“Fine! Anyway, when we go today, I’ll talk to that child’s parents, and I’ll make that brat kneel before you!”
After finishing his words, Count Rentos glanced at his daughter.
He had hoped she wouldn’t be discouraged, but his delicate daughter already had a dejected expression.
Meanwhile, the carriage had already arrived in front of the Imperial Palace.
Count Rentos snorted.
‘Right, so they were people who work at the Imperial Palace after all.’
The other child’s parents had boldly summoned him and Reina to the Imperial Palace.
It seemed they wanted to get back at Count Rentos for doubting their status,
“What childish people.”
As if he would fall for such intimidation tactics.
‘From beginning to end, I’ll get apologies for all the physical and emotional wounds our Reina suffered.’
Count Rentos’s resolve was firm.
That was until he faced Wendel, the Imperial Palace Guard Captain, who greeted him and his daughter outside the carriage.
“Lu, Lord Lucian? Why are you here…?”
“His Majesty has commanded me to safely escort the Count to the audience chamber.”
Count Rentos walked with a bewildered expression.
Reina was also looking around nervously.
“Hi, His Majesty the Emperor wants to see me? Suddenly?”
Count Rentos’s mind was full of question marks.
‘Could it be that Ann Clark, the kindergarten director…?’
Had she tattled to Her Majesty the Empress about his abuse of power!
If that was the case, if the Emperor had summoned him because he was angry about that…
Count Rentos unconsciously gripped Reina’s hand tightly.
That day, he had been a bit harsh with Ann Clark.
Normally he wouldn’t have acted that way.
When it came to matters involving Reina, he always found it difficult to control his anger and frustration.
Because he felt sorry for his daughter, young Reina, who was left behind after losing her mother.
It was when Count Rentos arrived at the audience chamber, breaking out in cold sweat.
Before Wendel could even knock, the door burst open.
Then a child came running out from inside.
“…Hello, Reina.”
“Count. I hope your journey here wasn’t uncomfortable.”
Count Rentos’s eyes began to shake like reeds in the wind when he spotted the Emperor behind the child.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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